Hedgehog abuse

Marigold

Marigold

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I just don't know how to cope, after reading this story.
https://news.rspca.org.uk/2018/04/18/rspca-disgusted-as-hedgehog-tied-to-tree-by-makeshift-crucifix-of-shoelaces/
 
Man's inhumanity to animals is unbelievable.

I can't believe that all the dead badgers I see at the roadside are "drive kill" and hare coursing is on the increase.
 
It's a very sad story all round. I think it very likely that they will be caught and it will ruin their lives (probably will anyway.) Dumb to the extreme.
But don't be put off Evie. Animal welfare moves some to post - but so do eggs and flocks running for corn, new pullets and the occasional cockerel with attitude.
 
i have made a total mess of this post. I started by quoting Evie's post, and then I deleted my draft reply, and somehow Evie's quoted post was deleted as well. I can only apologise, Evie, i really didn't mean to do this. For those of you who are not such early birds on here, Evie was objecting to the fact that the heading I had used made explicit the nature of the story about hedgehog abuse, which she did not wish to read. She said that she likes reading the 'innocent chit chat' stories posted in the Dustbath, but isn't able to cope with stories such as the one I posted.
I'm really sorry I upset you, Evie. However, you didn't have to click on the link - the topic heading was intended as a warning.
I also find these things hard to deal with, although I don't believe the answer is to shut our eyes to them. And yes, I love the 'innocent chit chat' in this part of the forum, although I feel that, as we develop bonds of trust with each other as friends, we can sometimes go a bit deeper, explore ideas and feelings which are more serious or personal.
When Practical Poultry forum was in existence, there was a very lively Dustbath section on there, where everybody felt free to explore and disagree on a very wide range of topics as well as jokey chitchat, from Brexit, to adopting rescue dogs, to dealing with racial or sexual prejudice, to disability, to bereavement, or anything else in their adult lives beyond their shared interest in poultry. What was so good about it was that, although the discussions at times got quite heated when people had strong opinions, we all respected and supported each other and nobody resorted to personal abuse.
Until last year, when the ex-Practical Poultry people joined us on here, this section of our forum was little used. You can see this by looking back through the archive, people just didn't use it.
So personally, I feel that for those who want information and help about poultry, there's all the rest of the forum, and for those who also like to discuss anything that might come up in conversation if we could actually meet in person, the Dustbath could be a safe area. However, I accept that this is a moderation issue, particularly so because it was I who posted the original topic and heading which Evie is concerned about, and therefore I would appreciate help and advice from other members about what you want to see on here, and whether we should avoid anything potentially upsetting or controversial. Please let me know whether you feel I crossed a line here, as this sort of thing doesn't come up on here very often, and I feel maybe, that in my own distress about this story, I've made a mistake by posting it.
 
Very well said Marigold. One suggestion about the section title - perhaps after "let off steam" you could add something like " about things that interest you." I can't remember what the wording was on PPF but that made it very clear that it was not limited to "poultry" items.

I know how strongly you feel about hedgehogs and I'm with you on that. I had electric netting around my enclosure and always had concerns that a hedgehog might get trapped in it. Surprisingly, despite the proximity of "Pricklebums" hedgehog rescue I never saw a hedgehog at the previous property or as road kill. We were overrun with slugs! Last year I saw one moving along the boundary hedge of this garden so I have hopes that they are around.

I understand that you used the description of the abuse as a warning and I think you are right to warn people before they click on the link. If the indication isn't in the heading, it would need to be the first line of the post. Then the topic heading would need to be something general like "Warning some people might find this post about xxxxx distressing", where "xxxxx" in this case could be hedgehogs. One reason I clicked on the link was because I wanted to know where it had happened as that sort of cruelty to one species can be transferred to another which makes me fear for my cat.

I've been fortunate to meet a few forum members and there are others that I feel have become friends, particularly those who "migrated" from PPF (like Marigold and several other members, I was on both). We've shared our problems, been given practical advice, sympathy and virtual hugs and it certainly helped me through a bad patch, and it's often raised awareness of other issues where we can all help by signing an on-line petition. The forum generally provides us with lots of interest and quite a few laughs; it doesn't do any harm to highlight the darker issues occasionally.
 
Thank you, Marigold, for your thoughtful and courteous analysis. My personal view is in complete agreement with what you have said. Though some things may be upsetting or challenging then so long as people are not personally offensive then this is OK.
I find it stimulating that a range of subjects can be discussed and, as you say, one does not have to read anything that one doesn't want to. On the specific subject of contention infeelmitmis helpful for all of us to be reminded that cruelty and barbarism exist in every community. This helps us to be both observant and proactive.
 
I agree with what you have said.
It s nice we can discuss anything on here, and if you don't like the look of a subject you don't have to open or read it.
the saying "Earth, where every prospect pleases and only man is vile" is very true
 
bigyetiman said:
if you don't like the look of a subject you don't have to open or read it.
Click to expand...

It’s not possible not to read it when the subject is in the subject line!!

That’s what I objected about, the unavoidable the title being a graphic description of animal abuse.

If you really feel you need to share such things, the title should state nothing more than ‘post about animal abuse’. That’s the only way others can then CHOOSE to not read it.
 
I can only apologise, Evie, for distressing you with my insensitivity, and also for accidentally deleting your post. Point taken, it's important that everyone feels safe and welcome on here, and I made a tactless mistake. I'm sorry that you feel I've let you down. I've changed the heading.
At least we seem to have been able to agree some guidelines on what we want to be able to talk about on here, and how we indicate what our posts are likely to be about.
Must go and feed the hedgehogs .....
 
That is what I thought you meant Evie - hence my suggestion about the thread title which, typically, I made too long. Marigold's rename is so clear and simple. Hope you continue to enjoy the forum.
 
Thank you.

I just cannot bear the idea of anyone deliberately inflicting pain on an innocent animal purely for ‘fun’. It’s abhorrent, these people are repulsive. I can’t bear it, it enrages me and makes me wish it could be done to the perpetrators what they did to the animals. I find it too much to even think about.
 
Nether can we. Plus there is evidence that these sort of people quite often turn out to attack fellow man in later years
 
There are certainly some sick individuals about. I remember seeing a police program in London, saying some cats had been killed. The policeman looking into it said then they like to find these culprits sooner rather than later, as they tend to move on from animals and start targeting humans.
 
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